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Australian MP lashes out at France: France was helping prop up a psychotic dictator with opposition
The Australian ^ | March 18 2003

Posted on 03/18/2003 2:36:20 PM PST by knighthawk

FRANCE was helping prop up a psychotic dictator with its trenchant opposition to an American-led war on Iraq, government backbencher Cameron Thompson said tonight.

France, along with Russia, Germany and China, helped sink a new resolution in the United Nations Security Council which would have paved the way for a UN-backed war in Iraq.

Instead, France was pushing for UN arms inspectors to be given more time to scour Iraq for weapons of mass destruction.

French President Jacques Chirac today condemned plans by the US, Britain and Australia to launch a unilateral strike to disarm Iraq, warning the decision ran contrary to the wishes of the international community.

But Mr Thompson said France had trashed hopes of a sensible outcome in the UN and was motivated by self-interest, rather than any genuine opposition to war.

We've witnessed (French nuclear tests on) Mururoa Atoll, we've witnessed the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior and we've also seen, for example, France selling nuclear power plants to Iraq," he said.

"Those sorts of things I think should rightly instill in Australians a view that France will do practically anything, will practically sell anything, will practically go anywhere, to advance French initiatives."

Mr Thompson said it was ironic that the Australian Greens, who supported the environmental movement, were supporting the Chirac government, which authorised the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985.

"In this exercise they have set out to promote French interests," he said.

He said the French were simply trying to flex their muscles in world affairs to set France up as an alternative power to the US.

"They saw in this an opportunity to relive the good old days French imperialism and they took it," Mr Thompson said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; axisofweasels; cameronthompson; china; chirac; france; franceiraq; french; frenchimperialism; germany; inspections; iraq; iraqfrance; jacqueschirac; lashesout; russia; thompson; un; unsc; warlist
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1 posted on 03/18/2003 2:36:20 PM PST by knighthawk
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To: MizSterious; rebdov; Nix 2; green lantern; BeOSUser; Brad's Gramma; dreadme; Turk2; Squantos; ...
Ping
2 posted on 03/18/2003 2:36:48 PM PST by knighthawk
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To: knighthawk; *war_list; W.O.T.; 11th_VA; Libertarianize the GOP; Free the USA; knak; MadIvan; ...
OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST
3 posted on 03/18/2003 2:39:47 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Nuke Saddam ( Bush is thinking about it ) and then what about Germany and France?)
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To: knighthawk
I hope that French goods are boycotted all over the world.
4 posted on 03/18/2003 2:40:46 PM PST by PoisedWoman (Fed up with the liberal media)
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To: knighthawk
"Those sorts of things I think should rightly instill in Australians a view that France will do practically anything, will practically sell anything, will practically go anywhere, to advance French initiatives."

But the US and Australia never advance their interests, never sully their hands with blood soaked dictators, never used covert ops.

5 posted on 03/18/2003 2:41:32 PM PST by Burkeman1
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To: knighthawk
US, Britain and Australia to launch a unilateral strike

Apparently, 1+1+1=1 according to this reporter.

6 posted on 03/18/2003 2:46:23 PM PST by Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
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To: Burkeman1
Oh, brother!
7 posted on 03/18/2003 2:59:21 PM PST by Lady Heron
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To: Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
You don't understand. "Unilateral" now means "without the French."
8 posted on 03/18/2003 3:01:08 PM PST by p. henry
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To: Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
I guess unilateral means english speaking.
9 posted on 03/18/2003 3:02:37 PM PST by smpc
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To: Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
"French President Jacques Chirac today condemned plans by the US, Britain and Australia to launch a unilateral strike"

Unilateral-done or undertaken by one person or party.

Chirac is an ignorant fool who makes no sense. No wonder he is so popular in France.
10 posted on 03/18/2003 3:04:18 PM PST by MidlandDesperado
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To: Orbiting_Rosie's_Head
Binary logic

1 AND 1 AND 1 = 1

11 posted on 03/18/2003 3:04:24 PM PST by bobi (events before the event are more important than the event)
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To: Burkeman1
Burkeman1 wrote: But the US and Australia never advance their interests, never sully their hands with blood soaked dictators, never used covert ops.

And your point is.....?

EVERY nation advances their interests! Just as you (hopefully) try to see to it that your family is safe and has enough to eat. There is no sin there, if tis done honourably. There is less blood on our hands than there might be, and our hands are far cleaner than those of some cheese-eating nations I might mention! Not to mention some Sattrappies in Asie and the Mid-east!

So what if we've used covert ops? This isn't "Chutes and Ladders" and if you think for one second that the oposition isn't and hasn't used Spec Ops on us then you are naive.

Tia

12 posted on 03/18/2003 3:12:38 PM PST by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno World!")
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To: tiamat
I agree with you. Every nation does advance their interests as they see them. And no nation has "friends". I am just a little sick of this self righteous juevenile anti French bashing. They are doing what they think is in their best interests. We may disagree with them- but no need to pretend that we someone are more pure than they are.
13 posted on 03/18/2003 3:15:24 PM PST by Burkeman1
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To: knighthawk

BINGO

More courage from an Aussie than 99% of the Republican leadership.

Thank GOD for Rummy.

14 posted on 03/18/2003 3:18:43 PM PST by Enduring Freedom
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To: p. henry
without the french

How true. New definition for 'unilateral'. LOL

We thank the Australians for their kind words and support. When the chips are down, I can't think of any time that the Aussies were not with us.

15 posted on 03/18/2003 3:20:32 PM PST by meema
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To: Burkeman1
France lies.

They are advancing their self-interest at the expense of your life, friend, and lying about the reason.

Like Clinton, French leadership are scumbag Socialists who trick the stupid populace into believing their self-sacrifice while lining their pockets.

The definition of EVIL.

Learn to name it and hate it, not excuse it.

16 posted on 03/18/2003 3:21:12 PM PST by Enduring Freedom
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To: Burkeman1
Okay. That's decent.

No problem here, between thee and me!

Personally, i don't like the French perfidy and I *DO* think that for them, it is about the money and the oil-contract scandal that broke this morning... and Chirac covering his bottom, of course!

The fact that they have scuttled back so quick, only makes me want to kick them more...I mean REALLY! It has not even been 24 hours that they were calling us names and now here they are , wanting to be all helpful.

Makes my blood boil!

Tia

17 posted on 03/18/2003 3:21:51 PM PST by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno World!")
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To: tiamat
Well- of course France is now craving admittance in this little war. Since they couldn't stop it they want to be a part of it. Not to help us mind you. But so they have a presence in a Post War Iraq and make sure US hegemony in the region is a least a little blunted. It shouldn't make your blood boil. That is how nations operate. We would do the same thing.
18 posted on 03/18/2003 3:26:40 PM PST by Burkeman1
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To: PoisedWoman
Got a reply today to my email to Michelin. They say I am hurting Americans. One thing they told me that I don't want to hear is that they give to the United Way.
19 posted on 03/18/2003 3:27:14 PM PST by Pushi
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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